Employer of Record Event Staffing
Risk Brief · Compliance Fundamentals
What Is an Employer of Record in Event Staffing?
The term "employer of record" appears in staffing contracts and COI requirements — but what does it actually mean, who holds it, and what does it protect against?
Key Takeaways
- The employer of record (EOR) is the legal entity that employs workers — handling payroll taxes, workers' comp, W-2s, and FLSA compliance. In event staffing, this is the staffing agency.
- W-2 employment = EOR status. When a staffing agency employs workers as W-2 employees, it is the EOR by definition. Gig platforms using 1099s have no EOR.
- EOR is not the same as PEO. A PEO co-employs a client's own workforce. An EOR employs its own workers and places them with clients.
- EOR status does not guarantee full liability protection. If an event organizer exercises direct control over agency workers, a joint employer finding can still attach.
- Verifying EOR status is straightforward: confirm W-2 employment, review COI for workers' comp, and check that the contract names the agency as EOR.
Section 01
What "Employer of Record" Actually Means
When a staffing agency places workers at your event, the agency is the employer of record (EOR) — the legal entity that employs those workers for tax, compliance, and liability purposes.
Every TAG Partner Agency Serves as the Employer of Record
W-2 employment, verified workers' comp, and payroll tax compliance — built into every order. One contract. 300+ markets.